Chapter 156
That day.
I headed into the castle town to blow off some recent frustration.
Since Vin had been demonstrating his excellent ability to coordinate matters, there was nothing for me to do while the succession struggle was on hold.
With a strategist now at Leo's side and his faction beginning to take shape, more nobles were trying to get close to him.
The fear that they might be purged if they remained on the sidelines had added to their numbers, but Vin was handling them all effortlessly.
Because the succession struggle was on hold, any action that could be seen as expanding our faction was extremely dangerous. However, simple greetings were no problem. Taking advantage of that, Vin kept adding nobles' greetings to Leo's schedule.
He was preparing for the succession struggle without leaving anything to chance. Seeing him work made me think I could take it easy for a while, and that was what started this whole thing...
"What an unexpected windfall."
"Chupii!!"
With that, I firmly grabbed the black penguin from before with both hands.
I never expected to find it in the Imperial Capital. Its leisurely stroll had been its undoing.
"Now then, I wonder if penguin tastes good?"
"Chupii!!??"
Perhaps it had realized its life was in danger. It desperately shook its somewhat chubby body, but that was nowhere near enough to escape my grasp.
I could take it to a restaurant and have them prepare it.
Some people might call that cruel. But this thing nearly got me killed by the Hero. That was far more cruel, if you ask me. In other words, it had attempted murder. Its actions certainly qualified it as a monster.
As I thought about that, I began wondering which restaurant I should take it to.
There weren't many restaurants that would accept it and prepare it properly. It was a penguin, after all.
"Hmm, maybe taking it back to the castle would be best?"
Taking it to the castle's chef seemed like the safest option.
Just as I was thinking that...
"Aaaaaah!! What are you doing to my Enta?!"
A loud voice came from behind me.
When I turned around, I saw a petite girl with a black hood pulled deeply over her head.
Standing with her legs spread and pointing a finger at me, she looked extraordinarily imperious.
"I'm trying to decide where to have it cooked."
"What?! You're planning to eat such an adorable animal?"
"Adorable...?"
At the girl's words, I looked again at the penguin in my hands.
"Chup, chupii..."
It was looking at me with the kind of gaze one might give a pet, but its protruding belly cut its cuteness in half. Besides, its face wasn't that cute to begin with.
No matter how generously I looked at it, I couldn't call it adorable.
"It's not adorable at all."
"What?! You mean you can't see how cute it is?! Hmm, perhaps the people of the Empire have something wrong with their sense of beauty?"
She was an insolent child, dismissing all Imperial people without warning.
How high and mighty could she get?
Still, I didn't dislike her honesty.
That said, whether to release the penguin was an entirely separate matter.
"Aesthetic sensibilities differ from person to person. Anyway, is this yours?"
"Don't treat Enta like an object! Enta is my friend!"
"Chupii!"
The girl cried out as though deeply offended, and the penguin took advantage of the moment to cry out as well.
However, that had nothing to do with me.
"I see. Then you chose your friend poorly."
"Aah?! Hey! Don't take Enta away!"
"Chupii!!"
"Shut up! This thing nearly killed me! I won't be satisfied unless I boil or roast it!"
"You were nearly killed by Enta...? How feeble you are."
Her tone mocked me with exaggerated disbelief.
Irritated, I tried to walk away with the penguin without saying anything, but the girl grabbed my arm and held me back.
"So don't take Enta away! This is kidnapping!"
"I'm just taking down a monster."
"A monster?! What an insult! Enta is a swallow!"
"...Huh?"
"Hmm?"
I froze at the girl's outrageous claim.
The girl stopped moving as well.
After a brief silence, I finally muttered a single word.
"A swallow...?"
"What? You didn't realize? Enta is obviously a swallow, no matter how you look at it."
"No, no. It's obviously a penguin, no matter how you look at it."
"Wrong! Enta is a swallow!"
"It's obviously a penguin! Do you really think this thing can fly?"
"Enta is a swallow that got too fat to fly! It used to be slim!"
"That's ridiculous!"
This isn't a matter of being slim or fat.
Swallows don't walk like penguins. At least, no swallow I know has ever behaved so bizarrely.
But the girl refused to acknowledge that.
"Enough! If I say he's a swallow, then he's a swallow! I know Enta better than anyone!"
"Chupii!"
"Sigh... Fine. If you say so."
"Oh?! You understand now?!"
"Yes, I understand. A swallow that can't fly is a disgrace to swallows. Eating it would be for the good of the species."
"What?!"
The girl was so shocked that she instinctively released my arm.
Taking advantage of the opening, I dashed toward the castle, but after running a short distance, I fell as if I had crashed into a wall where there was nothing at all.
A barrier—and one that had been deployed quickly and was extremely sturdy.
If it had already been there, I should have noticed it.
"Ouch!! My nose..."
"Hmph! This is divine punishment for the wicked! I'm taking Enta back!"
"Chupii!!"
The penguin, Enta, escaped my grasp, ran to the girl, and she scooped it up.
This is bad. If I let it escape here, the disaster from last time might happen in the Imperial Capital this time.
I wouldn't survive another prank like that. Even if I didn't eat the penguin, I had to capture it here.
"Hah... Fine. Let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
"I'll give you an animal even cuter than that. It can talk, and it's an incredibly strong bear cub."
It wasn't a real bear, of course, but it looked like one, so that should be good enough.
Even if the bear cub escaped after I handed it over, it wouldn't be my responsibility.
"A talking bear?! How extraordinary! Is it cute?!"
"Children love it."
"What?! N-no! My affection for Enta won't be swayed by something like that!"
"Ah, I see. Then perhaps I'll give it to someone else."
"Ah... Th-then... If you insist, I suppose I could trade Enta for just one day! But no eating it!"
For some reason, the girl announced that as if she were doing me a favor.
I sighed and approached the girl as though I had no choice.
Then I reached out toward Enta as if to seal the deal.
But—
"Ouch?! This penguin bit me!"
"Chupii!!"
"E-Enta... Do you hate it that much...? Forgive me. I didn't understand your feelings. In that case, the deal's off!"
Saying that, the girl ran off with Enta.
However, after going some distance, she turned back as though she had remembered something.
"That's right! I've memorized your face! You ogre who tried to eat my friend! I'll repay this debt many times over! Remember that!"
The girl declared this while thrusting out her chest and pointing imperiously, just as she had when she first appeared.
I replied, waving my bitten hand in pain.
"A declaration of war is fine, but do you even know where I live?"
"Hmm? You're right. State your name! I'll come get my revenge someday!"
Did she really think anyone would give their name to someone who had just declared that they intended to get revenge?
Well, she was someone who mistook a penguin for a swallow, so I supposed she was simply innocent.
She had a bright, carefree personality.
"I have no name worth introducing. But I'll tell you where I live."
"Oh? How honest of you! That shows good character! It must be because my everyday conduct is so exemplary!"
"Why does that have anything to do with your everyday conduct...? Whatever. I live over there."
With that, I pointed to the castle visible in the distance.
The girl leaned backward in surprise when she saw it, but I continued without paying any attention.
"Come if you can."
"I accept your challenge! Don't regret it!"
Saying that, the girl ran off.
I watched her go and muttered softly with a sigh.
"Follow her and determine where she lives. She's almost certainly the Celestial Princess. It would be useful to establish a connection with her."
"Yes, sir."
With that, I gave Sebas his instructions and slowly made my way back to the castle.
What a strange connection. Still, it was convenient.
But there was one thing.
"I have to make sure she doesn't meet Erna."
Keeping that one thing firmly in mind, I returned to the castle.